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Seeing Li Shen hesitate slightly, Zhao Yuan continued with sharp eyes:

"In recent years, our Zhao family has suffered from a decline in talent in the field of talisman cultivation, and we desperately need someone with your talent and excellent character. After becoming an honored member, the family will provide you with more resources, including the talisman cultivation inheritance that the family possesses. If your cultivation can reach the peak of Qi Refining in the future and you plan to establish your foundation, the family will also provide you with Foundation Establishment Pills to help you break through."

Upon hearing the words "Foundation Building Pill," Li Shen's breath hitched.

Even if he had two, given his pseudo-spiritual root aptitude, the chances of him establishing his foundation with just two low-grade foundation-building pills would be extremely slim.

Zhao Yuan seemed to sense his intention and continued with a smile:

"Of course, the responsibilities of offering sacrifices are also heavier. In addition to doubling the number of talismans to be handed over each month, you will also need to participate in any major family operations. Right now, the Zhao family is in need of manpower. Naturally, you will not be shortchanged in terms of corresponding benefits."

Li Shen quickly weighed the options in his mind.

Currently, we are making preparations for both scenarios in order to lay the foundation.

One must either seize the Foundation Establishment Pill and rely on it to successfully establish one's foundation.

One must either refine the Yuanhe Pill, relying on the Yuanyin Foundation Building Technique, or rely on female cultivators to build their foundation through absorbing their essence.

The first option is the safest, but also the most difficult.

The biggest obstacle is how to obtain more Foundation Building Pills.

The second type, although having mastered the Thousand Refinements and Myriad Transformations Hand, already possesses the ability to refine the Yuanhe Pill, the Yuan Yin Foundation Building Technique is not something that can be achieved by simply accumulating quantity.

Ordinary cultivators possess a unique Yin and Yang essence, and the probability of success is highest during the first union of Yin and Yang essence.

Therefore, the target of the sexual intercourse must be someone whose cultivation level is higher than Li Shen's and whose primordial yin is still intact.

This is also the difficulty of the Primordial Yin Foundation Building Technique.

Moreover, if the first attempt fails, even if more resources are collected and the foundation is successfully established later, there will still be issues with an unstable foundation.

Becoming a retainer of the Zhao family means a closer bond, but also more risks.

Especially in the current turbulent situation.

But the allure of the Foundation Building Pill was simply too great.

"Patriarch Zhao."

Li Shen asked cautiously:

"What specific obligations are involved in making offerings?"

Zhao Yuan stood with his hands behind his back and said calmly:

"I mainly draw talismans on weekdays, but I need to be at the beck and call of the family during special periods."

Li Shen remained silent for a moment, unable to make up his mind, but he did not want to give up this opportunity to reliably obtain Foundation Establishment Pills.

In the end, he could only bow and say:

"May I have a few days to consider this matter?"

Zhao Yuan nodded, his expression calm:

"Of course, you can give me an answer in three days. However..."

He then changed the subject, his tone becoming more meaningful:

"The path of cultivation is fraught with both opportunities and risks. Although your aptitude is average, you possess a calm and steady temperament, and your talent in the art of talismans is exceptional. Wouldn't it be a pity to miss out on opportunities because of timidity? Think it over carefully."

After saying that, Zhao Yuan said no more and turned to leave.

After watching the other person's figure disappear from sight, Li Shen's heart was filled with turbulent emotions.

Back at the academy, he was still somewhat absent-minded.

Fortunately, I was already very familiar with the explanation of basic talismans, so there were no major mistakes.

Afterwards, Li Shen pondered the matter of offering sacrifices to the talisman master that Zhao Yuan had mentioned all the way home.

-

The reception hall of the Zhao residence.

Zhao Yuan sat in the main seat, and the Zhao family's eldest elder, Zhao Ying, Zhao Qian, and several other elders took their seats.

He activated the soundproofing of the reception hall and asked in a deep voice:

"What are your thoughts on the four-party meeting that the Song family mentioned this morning?"

The eldest elder of the Zhao family, Zhao Wuchen, spoke first. Apart from Zhao Yuan, he held the highest position in the Zhao family.

His hair and beard were all white, but his eyes remained as sharp as an eagle's as he questioned the Song family's proposal:

"If the news of Master Xuanhuo's former residence is true, why would the Song family share it so easily? There must be something fishy going on."

"Moreover, although the infiltration of demonic forces will indeed affect the peace of the market, my Zhao family has the fewest Foundation Establishment cultivators and cannot afford any losses."

Upon hearing this, the elders of the Zhao family present remained noncommittal.

Before Zhao Ying successfully established her foundation, the Zhao family only had three foundation-establishing cultivators, the fewest among the four major families.

Whether it's getting involved with Master Xuanhuo or eliminating the Foundation Establishment demonic cultivators lurking in the market, conflict is inevitable.

Since there is conflict, there is a possibility of loss.

"However, this matter involves the opportunity of achieving the Golden Core stage. If we seize it well, our Zhao family may be able to turn the tables. Although we may not be able to stand on equal footing with the Song family, we will no longer be suppressed by the Tang and Zhou families."

The speaker was Zhao Ling, the second elder of the Zhao family, who was in charge of managing the Zhao family's law enforcement hall and was at the early stage of Foundation Establishment.

"I can participate then and seize an opportunity for my family."

Zhao Ling volunteered himself directly.

"Nonsense!"

Zhao Wuchen rebuked him sternly.

According to the Song family, the former residence of the Xuanhuo Shangren was located deep in the Laoshan Mountains, near the area where third-tier demonic beasts roamed.

If you are unlucky enough to encounter it, it's a matter of life and death.

He wanted to say something more, but suddenly felt a churning in his throat, coughed violently a few times, and coughed up dark blood clots.

All the Zhao family members present felt a chill run down their spines.

Zhao Wuchen's worries stemmed from his own experience encountering a third-tier demonic beast.

Although he survived, he was seriously injured, which not only damaged his foundation, making it difficult for him to make any further breakthroughs in his cultivation, but also caused him to be constantly plagued by fire poison.

If we can't find an effective cure, I'm afraid that in a few years, my cultivation at the mid-Foundation Establishment stage will become unstable.

The black blood that Zhao Wuchen coughed up plunged the entire reception hall into a brief silence.

Zhao Qian, who was sitting to the side, was about to get up, but Zhao Wuchen raised his hand to stop her.

He slowly wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, his originally sharp eyes dimming slightly, but his straight back still displayed the majesty of the Zhao family's eldest elder.

"I'm fine."

Zhao Wuchen's voice was slightly hoarse, but exceptionally firm:

"It is precisely because I have personally experienced it that I understand the terror of third-tier demonic beasts even more clearly. That is a gap that cannot be easily bridged by numbers. If we really approach their territory, the slightest carelessness will result in the annihilation of the entire army. Our Zhao family... cannot afford to gamble."

He looked at Zhao Ling:

"Second Elder, I am very pleased that you are willing to share the burden of the family. However, your cultivation is still in the early stage of Foundation Establishment. Since that Xuanhuo Shangren is a Golden Core cultivator, the restrictions of his mansion must be dangerous, and the surrounding environment is even more unpredictable. The Song family's proposal for the four families to join forces is simply to have us share the risks, or even... to act as exploratory stones."

Zhao Ling's expression changed slightly, he hesitated before finally falling silent.

Zhao Yuan, seated at the head of the table, took in everyone's reactions. After a moment, he spoke slowly, his voice steady and powerful:

"The Grand Elder is absolutely right. On the surface, the Song family's move is to lure out the demonic cultivators hiding in the market and share the opportunity, but in reality, it's more about using one to devour another. Dealing with the demonic cultivators is just a side effect."

His gaze swept over the assembled clan elders:

"I have investigated that Xuanhuo, and it is indeed real. However, since they have taken the initiative to involve the three of us, they must have already obtained key information and discovered that it is difficult to overcome by one family alone. Even if we cannot tear a piece of flesh from it, we cannot just hand it over to the other three families."